PTI
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 12
TO prevent incidents of violence, Assam government has been advised to take strict security measures, including seizure of illegal weapons, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. 46 people lost their lives in May following violence in Baksa and Kokrajhar districts of Assam.
“The government of Assam has been advised to adopt strict security measure including seizure of illegal weapons held by different groups and also for effective functioning of anti- extortion cells set up in various districts of the states including BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Area Districts),” Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said.
To prevent recurrence of violence, 23 fixed/mobile police pickets have been established in the vulnerable areas.
“...Patrolling by security forces have been intensified for area domination and to instill a sense of security among people,” he said during Question Hour while responding to queries on violence in BTAD.
Central Armed Police Forces and State Armed Police are utilised extensively for taking action against the militants besides organising peace committee, he said.
Citing reports received from the Assam government, Rijiju said incidents of violence were committed by the armed cadres of extremist group NDFB (Songbijit) on May 1 and 2 in three villages of Baksa and one village of Kokrajhar district.
According to him, violence claimed lives of 46 civilians.
“The state government has paid ex-gratia grant of Rs 8 lakh (Rs 5 lakh under the state scheme and Rs 3 lakh under the central scheme) to the next of kin of the deceased belonging to Baksa district,” he said. With regard to Kokrajhar district, the state government provided funds to the district administration for disbursement of ex-gratia grant of Rs 8 lakh to each of the next of kin of the deceased “which is under process of payment”.
The state government has provided rehabilitation of Rs 50,000 to each family whose houses were fully damaged.
Assam to observe Mourning Day on August 16
THE day, as in previous years, will be observed in all districts and sub divisional headquarters and arrangements for the same will be made by Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Officers, an official release said on Tuesday.
Officers and staff of all departments and heads of offices in all districts and sub-divisions will commemorate the day by observing a one-minute silence at 11 am in memory of those who lost their lives and take a pledge against all acts of terrorism and militant violence.
The National Flag will be flown at half mast in all Government offices/ educational institutions. Public meetings will be convened centrally in all district headquarters involving leading citizens, members of the civil society and educational institutions where a pledge to work unitedly for peace and harmony and to raise their voices against all acts of militant violence will be taken.
Ministers, MPs and MLAs have been requested to attend the programmes in the districts/ sub divisions.
Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner will also convene a public meeting inviting leading citizens, members of the civil society and students of educational institutions.
Altogether 18 people, mostly school children, were killed and several others injured in a bomb blast by ULFA militants at the Dhemaji College Ground where the district’s central Independence Day celebrations were being held. The ULFA later apologised for the killings.
